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WASHINGTON — The White House yesterday applauded House Republicans for backing down from a fight over raising the government’s debt limit.

“We support the idea that the debt ceiling ought not to be a political football,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney, noting that President Obama had flatly refused to negotiate the issue.

The House today will vote on a bill that would suspend the $16.4 trillion debt ceiling until May 18. That gives the administration wiggle room to pay the government’s bills, and Republicans time to plan a new strategy to fight Obama over deficits and spending.

Unless Congress raises the debt limit, the government will soon run out of borrowed money and might have to stop paying federal workers, Social Security benefits and other crucial bills.